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NICHOLAS STARR, JR., 0F HOMER, NewA YORK,

Letters Patent No. 77,120, dated April 21, i868.

i IMPROVEMENT IN EORS HAY-FORKS.

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Be it known that I, NICHOLAS STARR, Jr., of Homer, in the countyof Cortland, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Elevators; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of- Vthe same,`.1eference being 'had to the accompanying drawings making a portion of this speciiication, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a hay-fork or elevator made. according to my invention, vshowing the same in a closed position. v i

Figure 2 is a side view thereof, showing the same in an expanded condition.

vFigure 3 is an edgeviewof the same. I I

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to that variety of hay-elevating devices known as harpoon-forks, and its object is to.

provide an elevator which will not only be very simple and strong in construction, but which mayalso be forced into the hay and otherwise manipulated, when in use, with much greater convenience than those hitherto made. The invention consists in two lifting-spurs, pivoted at the lower end of a suitable stock, in combination with a sliding bar and toggle-braces, whereby the operation oflifting and discharging the hay, orlike material, Y

may be very readily performed.

'The invention further consists in the construction of the elevator with a sharp or cutting-edge at its lower extremity, in such manner that it may be forced into the' mass of hay to be liftedwith very great ease. and

facility.

To enable others to understand the construction and operation of my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

A representsV a stock, which maybe-formed from a ilat metal bar bent double, as shown more fully in iig. 3, with a space between the two sides for the reception of the internal portions of the apparatus. Placed in the lower part of theV space just mentioned, and pivoted at their lower extremities to the corresponding end'of the4 stock A, are two litftingspurs,`a, the upper ends'of which are connected by two toggle-braces or bars, 6, iu such manner that when theinnler ends of the said bars are moved upward, the spurs a will'be drawn inward nearly or wholly'within the space between the two sides of the stoelgand when moved downward, into line withieach otller, will force the aforesaid spurs laterally outward, and sustain the same inthe position shown in g. 2.

A ilat bar or rod,'c, is situated within the stock, with its lower end pivoted tothe inner ends of the toggle.; braces a. The upper end'portion of this rod c is furnished atione side with lips, a', folded over the adjacent edges of the sides of the stock', and, the oiiiceot' which isv to steady the. upper part of the aforesaid rod during the movements of the same. The said stem is furthermore furnished with a lug, b', to which is attached a tripping-cord, d, which passes over a pulley, c, placed inthe upper 'part of the interior of thestoclr.y

The lower portion of'the 'rod c has formed in it alongitudinal slot, c', through which passes a transversev pin, d', secured in the stock, and which serves as a guide for the rod duringfthe movements 'of the same.

Provided at the upper end of the stock is a ring or loop, g,',to which the draught-rope m is attached..

The lower extremity of the apparatus is bevelled olf at each side, to form a cutting-edge at the-said extremity, as shown at g", the said edge being'formed vpreferably 'upon thesomewhat projecting edge or end ofthe lower portion of one of the spurs a. v I

The apparatus being inthe position shown in iig. 1, the lower portionA thereof is thrust down into themass of hay to be elevated, such forcing ofthe elevator into `the hay being rendered very* easy and convenient by the sharp edge formed upon the lower end thereof, as described. The rod c is then forced downward, and, acting through the toggle-bars b, forces the liftingspurs a laterally outward into the position shown in iig. 2, the said toggle-braces being brought into line with each other, thus rmly sustaining 'the spurs in theposition described. The elevator being drawn up by the` draught-rope m, thespurs @catching underneath a. greater or less quantity of hay, lift orelevate the same, as 'the fork is drawn upward, until, the desired elevation bei'ngattained, the

tripping-cord is pulled, therebyforeing upward theinner ends of the toggle-braces, thereby bringing the afore-l saidspurs into the space between the sides of` the stock, thus 4releasing the hay, whielx, of course, falls from tigo elevator by its owneight. The lifting-spurs being thus brought to their original position, the elevator may be again inserted into the mass of hay, to elevate, in like manner, another portion of lthe sam'e.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I The two spurs, a, pivoted at their lower ends to the stock A, in combination with the shifting-bar e and toggle-braces b, substantially as-herein se't.forth, for the purpose specified.

` NICHOLAS STARR, Jn.

Witnesses:

WM. ANDREWS. JOHN B. COMBELL. 

